Personal Chef To Go's Official Blog

February 2011

02/17/2011

If you feel like interruptions are constantly holding you back then it may be time to admit you may have a problem. You’re an interruption magnet. True: distractions aren’t always your fault. But if you feel like you're always struggling to make headway on priority tasks due to phone calls, passing co-workers, e-mail, and other time-sucking stuff, it’s possible that you are inviting these interruptions into your world without even realizing it.

For some it’s a form of procrastination, while others simply fail to protect their priorities. The good news is, there’s a fix for changing your interruption rate. It begins by learning to close your door… both physically and mentally. Try these suggestions from Dumb Little Man…

The first time I heard about vegetarians, I struggled to understand why someone would be crazy enough to stop eating meat. So you can imagine how my first encounter with the concept of veganism left me more than perplexed.

No cheese? Or eggs? How do people survive?

These days I get it.

Reading The Simplest Diet for Lean Fitness recently on Zen Habits, I was inspired by Leo’s commitment to healthy vegan eating. He almost had me convinced to abandon my bacon-loving ways. Almost.

But rather than biting off more than I could chew, so to speak, I’ve decided to take another leaf out of Leo’s book.

I’m starting small by going vegan just one day a week with Meatless Monday. Maybe you could take this first step too?

How To Take The First Steps To A Healthier Diet

1. Don’t over-commit. As with all habit change, the smaller you start out, the more likely you are to succeed. Just try Meatless Monday for a while and take it from there.

2. Do your research. When I went vegetarian for a month last year, I struggled with my energy levels. It was only after consulting a nutritionist friend that I realized I wasn’t getting enough iron or protein. After upping my intake of green leafy veg and chickpeas I was back on track. Healthy eating takes more effort than just cutting out animal products. I can’t stress how important it is to prepare for the change.

3. Seek out simple recipes. Wholesome, delicious food doesn’t need to have an arm-long list of ingredients or take forever to cook. Keep an eye out for simple healthy recipes. They will make your new way of eating even more pleasurable.

4. Use healthful convenience foods. While we’d all love to cook our own beans from scratch and buy our veggies fresh every day, it’s not possible for everyone. There is another way. Canned beans, tomatoes and lentils can be just as nutritious as beans cooked from scratch. Frozen veg like spinach, collard greens and broccoli are another great way to make sure you always have something healthy in the house.

5. Explore your local farmers markets. Getting in touch with where your food comes from is a brilliant way to not only save money, it can keep you inspired and excited about your new way of eating. It’s also a great way to learn about the seasons and how produce naturally varies during the year.